Is this level of strictness normal on a private catamaran charter?

[Itsgettinghotinere]

We’re currently on a private catamaran charter in Croatia. For the most part, the week has been great, the Islands are beautiful and it’s been wonderful to see so many different places.

That said, I’m not sure if our experience of our skipper and hostess is usual or not…

We planned a sailing holiday as we wanted to do an activity holiday with our teens. I’ve sailed and grew up with small pleasure boats. We made this clear when we booked via the charter company and specifically listed it on our preference list. The preference list also stipulates that learning to sail is one of the possible options. We have not been allowed near the helm let alone sail! To be fair, the wind has been minimal so we’ve been under engine all week but yesterday would have been perfect but no, we are not allowed.

We are also not allowed to:

1. wear shoes on the boat. We know this however our hostess constantly shouts “shoes, shoes, shoes” at us as soon as we walk on to the sugar scoops! Every time. Without fail.
2. Sit on any outside seating while wet from swimming. When swimming we have to stay at the front of the cat until we dry off. I’m referring to the all weather outside seating. It’s making it very difficult as we’re not allowed to get any water while we swim as were might drip on the teak.
3. We are not allowed to drip anything anywhere: my husband was washing his hands in our cabin but the cabin door was open. While drying his hands some water dripped on the floor and our host saw and immediately came into our cabin and dried up the 3 spots.
4. We are told to eat over our plates. Our teens are 14 and 13 so it’s not as though food is dropping everywhere. My son was told to eat his watermelon over the plate as our host didn’t want to spend her time cleaning after him. We are not allowed to leave any crumbs on the table and look out if any accidentally end up on a cushion (out door cushion).
5. One evening my husband had a glass of red wine and it came with a warning not to spill any.
6. They have made restaurant bookings ahead for us which is fine for the most part but one was very expensive- (€650) and we only had two drinks each. The next evening was the same so we said we’d like to move our booking to a different restaurant and was told that it would make things awkward for them, they wouldn’t honour future bookings maybe and we ended up eating there.

There are other instances like this. The obsession with everything being clean all the time. We are very clean, tidy and respectful people. We just feel like we’re intruding on their boat.

While I’ve typed this I’ve been told we can only apply sunscreen off the boat, nowhere on the boat as apparently the front is full of sunscreen! I make us all stand on the front and apply sun cream. We don’t use sprays and I’m very careful about applying it. But it’s not enough and now we can’t use sunscreen unless we’re in the harbour or on land! In fact, our packing list said sun cream would be provided as they understandably want to use creams that won’t damage the boat. We arrived to find none so I suspect they prefer guests don’t use anything.

We’re walking on eggshells and just don’t feel welcome. Is this normal behaviour? I’d like to hear from those who had chartered before. Thank you

How strange that people get such different interpretations of posts. Nothing the OP said made it seem like she and her family were poor guests.

That is all completely out of order. I would have left by now. I would put in a massive complaint

It's just the way of boating. Very few people can't wear shoes - and those with enough issues to need them are probably not going to want to be on a boat as there's a bit of moving about and balance needed. Marking the deck and carpets is a big no-no and will cost to fix, so no shoes works best. It's actually lovely. Even if you're spending £20k for 4 days on the water (or more - the sky really is the limit), the shoe basket will be waiting at the end of the gang plank :)

I don't think anything the OP has posted has given that impression at all. They seem like pleasant, considerate people with a bit of money who are well used to such environments.

You seem like you're insecure about something and need to try and put others down to feel better?

The cat is made of grp, the deck is teak. On a cat you have a huge tramp at the front to lay on or sit. At the back the steps are grp. It's usual to either sit on the steps until you aren't dripping or to towel off.
This really is just good manners.

Just a sailor who gets it . . .

Gosh I’d feel a bit anxious out on the sea with them. What happens if you break a rule?Will they make you walk the plank? We’re a clumsy family we’d be in trouble..,

I have said before, I can get the requirement for specific deck shoes only worn onboard and changing as you board but why bare feet. quite small foot problems can cause pain if the sufferer goes barefoot, its not a balance issue.

and again you could put on appropriate footwear as an option and chose to go barefoot because you liked it?

If someone is unable to go barefoot, they really shouldn’t be charting a boat. Not sure why this upsets you so much you have to reply to every single person who’s pointed it out.

Good manners would be to expect paying guests to be able to enjoy themselves on holiday, but this sounds like some sort of punishment regimen.
You want to protect the deck? Put towels or matting down.

Basil Fawlty marching around shouting at people springs to mind. You’ll be able to tell stories and laugh about this holiday for years. Think of all the catch phrases. At least there’s that because atm poor op it sounds like a nightmare!!

Dripping water over the teak decks is pretty awful. Would you walk into your home dripping wet onto your unvarnished wood floor?

@PrincessofWills what happens when waves come onto the deck? (Maybe they don’t - I know nothing about sailing)

Exactly and dare I say it there’s going to be some wear and tear when you charter out your boat. I’m sure it’s factored in to prices. Of course everyone has to be respectful but op and family sound like they are going above and beyond.

I know! If the boat is so delicate and precious - don't sell it for chartered holidays!

I’m on your son’s team. I’d be thinking the same 😂

The packing list provided specifically said not to bring sunscreen as it would be provided which I understood as I know not all sun creams are boat friendly. We arrived and were told they don’t have any so we have to buy what was in the local Maria shop.

why? paralympians sail and many of them, while able to walk, could not go barefoot?

Sounds horrific
Not being able to drip sun screen on a private yacht is very far from horrific.

Yeah, I think that's it. The owners want or need the money and they don't enjoy being 'hosts' and frankly sounds like they are in the wrong line of business. They must be stressed out all the time as well as stressing out their guests.

Not being able to apply sunscreen when swimming would wind up quite horrific once the sunburn set in.

OP has already stated that they were told there would be boat friendly sunscreen on board, and then there wasn't. What were they meant to do?

We were told the only place we could apply sun cream was the front of the boat. Then it changed to the harbour. Since I’ve spoken to them, we are graciously allowed to use the front of the boat again.

The sugar scoops are teak - we would be unable to get out of the water without making contact with them!

I can assure you that we do not go about dropping food at any point. Having working in the holiday cottage market for years, I strive to leave any accommodation as I found it.

Being in the middle of the sea with people telling you off and wagging their fingers at you plus forcing you to pay 650 euros for a meal does though! Ok don’t drip the sunscreen but wearing it is very very necessary on a boat.

Stay in the shade?

All the time?? What about when they are allowed to go in the water .